20 Products With Giant Markups

If you’re a merchant seeking profits, there’s only one way to find them: sell stuff for more than you pay for it.

But what’s a fair markup? Fifty percent? One Hundred? Two? It depends on both product and business, but one thing’s for sure – some consumer goods are being sold for a whole lot more than they cost.

Whether you’re sipping a martini in a swanky bar or bottled water from the grocery store, odds are you’re swallowing an astronomical markup. Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson reveals some of the most overpriced products and shares tips on how to get them for less. Check it out, then read on for more.

Here, in no particular order, is a larger list of products with high markups, along with ways to avoid paying a premium.

Movie theater popcorn/candy

What’s harder to digest: (1) Movie theater popcorn has an average markup of 1,275 percent, or (2) With a soda, that popcorn has a caloric equivalent of three McDonald’s Quarter Pounders? Nutrition aside, concessions like $5 tubs of popcorn and $6 boxes of gummy worms are big revenue streams for movie theaters.

Since most theaters prohibit moviegoers from bringing in outside food and drinks, the way to save is to bypass concessions altogether. If you can’t, find your cinematic savings elsewhere, like getting a five-pack of movie tickets for $30 at CinemaDeals.com.

To save on prescriptions, ask your doctor for free samples and about generic substitutes. Comparison-shopping is also a great idea. Walmart, Target, and warehouse stores like Costco are good places to start. And take advantage of mail-order suppliers like Express Scripts if your prescription-drug plan offers it. Check out 10 Tips to Safely Save on Prescriptions.

Diamonds

Shoppers in the market for a diamond should be prepared to pay anywhere from 50 percent to 200 percent more than the wholesale cost, according to TheStreet.com. Information at this Google Answers page suggests markups range from 50 to 400 percent.

A diamond’s sparkle may cause shoppers to turn a blind eye to the price tag, but you can land a better deal by understanding what you’re buying and doing a lot of shopping. Read our Guide to Buying Diamonds in 5 Simple Steps.

Bottled water

Some claim bottled water’s markup reaches 4,000 percent – more expensive than gasoline. Saving is simple: drink tap water. If you’re concerned about taste or quality, use a water filtration system.

Salad bars

Some salad bar items are marked up more than 350 percent, according to Food Network Magazine. Items that aren’t worth their weight: chickpeas (386 percent markup over retail), radishes (302 percent), and baby corn (277 percent). To save, load up on the lighter items that cost less than you’d pay at the grocery store, like bacon bits (55 percent markdown) and grilled chicken (44 percent).

Eyeglass frames

Dishing out $450 for Armani frames? Markups for eyeglass frames can reach 1,000 percent. That’s certainly not unheard of. Fortunately, focusing on warehouse stores and the Internet can help you find discounts. Check out 8 Ways to Save on Eyeglasses for more ways to save up to 90 percent.

Soda

Order a glass of Coke when you’re dining out, and you could pay 300 to 600 percent over cost. Sure, you know going into a restaurant that you’re paying for the service and ambiance too. But if you’re looking to save without sacrificing a night out, skip the extras like soda and opt for water instead.

Text messages

Outgoing text messages on a cell phone can cost the provider three-tenths of a cent, but users up to 20 cents – that translates to a 6,000 percent markup. Some plans charge 10,000 times more for sending a text than other types of data. If you frequently send text messages, get an unlimited plan.

Wine/champagne

It’s not uncommon for restaurants to charge two or even three times retail for a bottle of wine. Order by the glass, and you’re sipping on an item marked up as much as 400 percent. So scan the menu for a reasonably priced bottle (tip: look for house wines).

Hotel minibars

Whether you’re reaching for a Snickers or a toothpaste kit, minibar markups can hit 400 percent. Some of the most ludicrous minibar prices, according to Oyster.com: $14 gummy bears at Omni Berkshire Place and a $10 bottle of water at the Mansfield Hotel. Simple solution: Leave your room.

Coffee and tea

Lattes are one of life’s little luxuries, but they can be marked up by 300 percent. If you’re looking to save, start by turning on your coffeemaker and bypassing the coffee shop.

Handbags

Some of the world’s most expensive handbags: a $3.8 million purse made by The House of Mouawad in Dubai that’s adorned with more than 4,000 colorless diamonds and a $1.9 million Hermes Birkin bag.

Designer jeans

A $665 price tag on Gucci jeans and $225 for Sevens proves some shoppers are willing to go to great lengths for fashion. But these designer items are grossly overpriced. According to The Wall Street Journal, it costs about $50 to make True Religion’s best-selling jeans, Super T Jeans, but the wholesale price reaches $152 and the average retail price is inflated to $335.

Bakery goods

For items that can easily be baked at home, you could be paying a 100 percent markup. Granted, convenience is a factor, and maybe a baker is a better cook than you. If so, a good cookbook could offer a decent return on investment.

Greeting cards

Greeting cards are simple pieces of paper with a 200 percent markup. And that’s before factoring in so-called “Hallmark holidays.” On a budget? Make your own cards – or better yet, if you have school-aged children, have them design one. This will likely amount to a more sentimental gesture and will leave a lasting impression.

Flowers

An orchid can cost up to $25 per stem. Add Valentine’s Day or a wedding into the mix, and prices can surge. While disregarding flower purchases altogether isn’t always an option, shopping around for the best price is. Check out online retailers, and buy in season to help cut costs.

Produce

Produce is often marked up as much as 75 percent. Buying in season is the best way to find a bargain. As we explain in our Seasonal Savings post, look for deals on grapefruits and oranges in January, asparagus in March, and melons in May. Also steer clear of pre-cut veggies and fruit, which often have an additional markup of about 40 percent.

Furniture and mattresses

Furniture stores usually make a hefty margin, with markups of about 80 percent. Try to shop during sales, but if your timing is off, don’t be afraid to negotiate a better price. Also take note of the product number and then search online to see if any other retailers offer a lower price.

Cosmetics

The average markup on cosmetics: 78 percent. Since most cosmetics are made from various combinations of dirt, oil, wax, and fragrance, it’s surprising that shoppers pay such a premium. But thanks to anti-aging claims and celebrity-endorsed marketing, shoppers have been breaking the bank to look younger and more beautiful for years. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to get more bang for your buck when purchasing beauty products (hint: skip the drugstores and load up on free samples).

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Updated: 2 days 16 hr ago

Subway offers a selection of footlong sub sandwiches for $4.99. That's $1 under last January's footlong offer, although that was good on all sandwiches. You can choose black forest ham, meatball marinara, spicy Italian, cold cut combo, or veggie delite.

Subway offers a selection of footlong sub sandwiches for $4.99. That's $1 under last January's footlong offer, although that was ... Read
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Updated: January 2, 2018

As part of a class action lawsuit settlement, customers who purchased certain Roundup Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate Plus or Super Concentrate may be entitled to cash compensation. The suit alleged that these concentrated products were advertised to make more spray solution than they actually did. Eligible customers can receive a refund of up to 50% of the weighted average retail price for these products and are limited to 20 claims per household. (The actual amount will depend on the total numbers of claims from all customers.) Click here for more information. Claims must be submitted by March 6.

Note: To qualify for a claim in your state, you must have purchased these products after the dates listed here. (While most dates are April 5, the qualifying year varies by state.)

HP has announced a voluntary recall of select HP laptop batteries due to an overheating defect that could result in a fire or burn hazard to customers. For affected customers, HP is providing battery replacement services by an authorized technician for free. (For some models, the battery is built-in and cannot be removed by the customer.)

For a list of laptop models that may be affected, scroll down to the bottom of the page at this link. Then, if you have one of these models, download this validation tool to see if you need to replace your battery. (Not all batteries have the defect and require replacement.)

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Updated: January 5, 2018

Chobani offers your choice of Chobani Greek Yogurt Product for free via a printable coupon. (You must enter your email address and ZIP code to print the coupon.) It's by far the best offer we've seen from Chobani. Eligible items for this promotion include Chobani 5.3-oz. Greek Yogurt, Chobani Flip 5.3-oz. Yogurt, Chobani 10-oz. Drink, and Chobani Smooth Yogurt Drink 2-Pack. The coupon must be redeemed by March 4. If you live in NJ or LA, you'll instead receive a 50 cents off coupon. Other conditions apply.

13 Deals offers the Energizer Automatic Slim LED Nightlights 2-Pack for $6.46. Coupon code "ENERGIZER1218" cuts the price to $3.49. With free shipping, that's tied with our mention from a week ago and the lowest price we could find by $10. They are sensor activated and measure 4.5" x 2" x 1.5".

Udemy continues to offer a selection of online courses for free. Each course includes hours of content, and most are by far the best deals we could find for such classes. Here are a few interesting ones:

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Updated: January 12, 2018

H&M takes up to 80% off a selection of new arrival apparel, shoes, accessories, and home items. (Prices are as marked.) Shipping adds $5.99, but orders of $40 or more receive free shipping via coupon code "0040". Kids' items start at $1.99, men's shirts at $2.99, and women's dresses at $3.99.

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Updated: 1 week 5 days ago

Macy's cuts up to 85% off a selection of men's suits and suit separates, with prices starting at $26.96. Plus, get an extra 20% off select styles via coupon code "BIG". (Eligible items are marked.) Pad your order with a beauty item (they start at $3) to bag free shipping; otherwise, shipping adds $10.95, or get free shipping with orders of $99 or more. Among the discounted brands are Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and Michael Kors. Deal ends February 25.

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Updated: January 31, 2018

Nordstrom takes up to 40% off a selection of apparel, shoes, and home items during its Winter Clearance Sale. (Prices are as marked. Although the banner says up to 40% off, we found deeper discounts within.) Plus, all orders receive free shipping. Size and availability for some items is limited. Sale ends February 25.

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Updated: January 29, 2018

That Daily Deal offers access to its February Extreme Stupid Good Deals for free. That's a $5 savings and tied with our November mention as the best deal we could find. Through February 28, you'll receive access to exclusive rapid-fire deals, and everything you order during this time will be shipped together. Note: Although this is a free offer, you will need to enter credit card information to get this deal.

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Updated: 2 weeks 4 days ago

Roxy via eBay offers the Roxy Women's Whole Hearted Long Sleeve Rashguard in several colors (Dusk pictured) for $13.98 with free shipping. That's the lowest price we could find by $6, although most stores charge over $30. It's available in sizes XS to XL.

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Updated: 2 weeks 5 days ago

Macy's discounts a selection of women's leggings and sweatpants, with prices starting from $4.96. Pad your order with a beauty item (they start at $3) to bag free shipping; otherwise, shipping adds $10.95. A couple of best bets:

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Updated: 2 days 14 hr ago

Redbox offers a coupon code good for a 1-night Blu-ray, DVD, or video game rental for free when you text "Valpak" to 727272. (It can be used online or at Redbox locations.) That's the best Redbox coupon we've seen since July. (Most free coupons only apply to DVDs and take just $1.50 off other items.) The coupon code you'll receive expires February 28.